We were lucky to catch up with Sean Nelson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sean, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

The idea of Hometown Media 360 was a serendipitous, but a natural plunge. I ran into a college and Marine Corps buddy (Tom B.) who happened to be a realtor. He asked me to do some photos for his next listing and I told him to give me a few months. I was excited for the opportunity and intimidated at the same time. As the weeks went by I could not stop thinking about this new adventure. I knew in my soul that I could do this. I looked deeper into the field of real estate photography and what I needed to do to launch by spring of 2021. I took some online classes to refresh my skills previously learned in college and purchased a new camera, lens, tripod and drone. The most challenging part was testing with the FAA to pilot a drone commercially.

With the support of my wife, Julianne I took a giant leap of faith. It was a fast, fearful yet exciting progression into the realm of real estate & architectural photography. Its been worth every minute. Owning a previous small business in the sport supplement industry made the business aspect of this a bit easier. I filed for a DBA (Doing Business As) and registered the name “Hometown Media 360” with the town. I follow the social media trends and try to separate myself not only with evolving skill, but customer service as well..so far so good.

Sean, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m from Rutland, Massachusetts, a small farming town in central Massachusetts where I live with my wife and two sons. I started Hometown Media 360 to highlight and capture the essence and beauty that each home has to offer. This is where I strive to separate myself from the pack, so to speak. Each home has a story to tell, and it’s my job to find it. My core belief is that I’m not “just” taking pictures, I’m capturing the imagination of potential buyers…can they see themselves living here? Creating family memories here?

There are many talented photographers in the area and I try to glean any extra photography tips from them every opportunity I get. Some are actual friends and others acquaintances however, photographers as a whole are generally a very supportive group.

Photography is my passion and second career. Having a B.A. in Media Arts has guided me through the creative process and industry people have helped me along the way. As a Marine Corps veteran I understand that pride, discipline and service to others are core tenets to any successful business.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Google reviews and word of mouth were powerful tools to gain momentum in this field. A friendly demeanor, great listening ear and being supportive of my client base was very important. Having fun and being flexible on location certainly played a role. You’ll be dealing with home owners, property managers and real estate agents at any given time and you must be approachable.

Social media is not my strongest suit but online interactions and responding to comments have won me listings. Another area I’m currently developing in is personal reels. I feel this will also assist in building relationships in this market.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Early on I had some harsh criticism from an agent. This can be difficult to hear however in retrospect the feedback did me a huge favor. I was able to correct the issue immediately and this caused me to recognize and manage the expectations of each and every client. I’ve always held my self to high standard and this was no different. Be open to constructive criticism, pivot and move on.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hometownmedia360.com/home
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hometownmedia360/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HOMETOWNMEDIA360

Image Credits
Sean Nelson, Hometown Media 360 & USMC